Making the white call
8 Apr 2008
The white card innovation trialled in the Varsity Cup final should be used for all major televised games.
At the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night, both teams were allowed to challenge a decision from the referee – one in each half – by showing a “white card”.
UCT captain JJ Gagiano used his first challenge just before half-time when he complained that a team-mate had been played without the ball. That resulted in a penalty for the visitors that was kicked into touch.
Then, with Ikeys ahead 10-9 in the second half, the hosts appeared to score a try through scrumhalf Wilhelm Koch, after a kick had bounced into Maties hands. However, Gagiano – after speaking with his coaches on the touchline – challenged the decision, saying that Koch had gained possession illegally. The try was then disallowed by the TMO, who ruled that some Maties players were in an offside position when the ball was kicked.
Maties used their only white card late in the second half, when Ikeys forced a turnover at a ruck and were later awarded a scrum 5m out from the home side’s tryline. You got the feeling it was done more in desperation by Maties captain Bennie Booysen than anything else, and the TMO correctly rejected the appeal.
During the game, I sent rugby writer Gavin Rich an SMS saying that the white card system should be used for all major games. I said the All Blacks, for example, could have challenged that forward pass in the World Cup semi-final against France, and gone on to win the tournament. Rich replied saying that he was worried it took too long for the TMO to make a decision and slowed down the game, but later admitted that at least the correct calls had been made.
Yes, Maties went on to score a match-winning try in the last minute of the game, but up until then, the white card had played a major role in keeping Ikeys in front. Had Gagiano lifted the Varsity Cup, he would have had been very grateful for those challenges.
Sanzar, who are on a mission to revitalise the Super 14 and Tri-Nations, should implement the challenge system for next year’s competitions. However, I would make a couple of minor changes to it. In the Varsity Cup final, if a team used their white card and the decision went their way, they could not challenge another decision in that half. Why not have a system like in major tennis tournaments, where a player gets three challenges a set and doesn’t lose a challenge when he is proven to be correct?
I would also give rugby captains two challenges a half. If the TMO rules against them, they lose a white card. If he rules in their favour, they still have two challenges for that half.
Interestingly, SuperSport spoke to former Test referee Andre Watson during the Varsity Cup final, and he said he supported the white card system because everyone – including referees – want the correct decision to be made. However, he then added that while UCT had made two excellent challenges, he hoped there weren’t any more referee errors, because Ikeys would not be able to query them. I thought that was a bizarre statement, considering the teams were playing for a R250,000 first-place prize. Surely Watson and Co should be trying to make sure that NO poor decisions are made that could change the course of the game?
If rugby truly wants to be a professional sport, then it needs a professional challenge system that takes human error (of the referee) out the game.
By Simon Borchardt
96 Comments
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8 Apr 2008, 09:15 am
First, the TMO can only judge what was requested, much like the Ref call to the TMO for a revision of whether a try has been scored – the TMO cannot unilaterally seek earlier evidence of indiscretion. Usually this is practically prevented by the restriction of the TMO to the actual moment of alleged infringement, which in this case was the moment of intercept,
Second, If this is not the case how far precisely can the TMO hgo back in play to find an infringement? Why stop there? with this application one can simply call a white card after a try has been scored and alleged an infrimngement somewhere in play leading up to the try?
I am not suggesting the necessarily the white card is a failure, but that this incident was indeed a complete bungle and only poses more questions than answers.
For me this illustrates precisely what John Robbie was onl about at Watson on Boots&All recently when Watson announced the white cra dinclusion – why in heaven’s name would you decided to implement an experimental system in a Final!!?? This almost had a deciding influence on the game and I think Watson can be grateful for the late try by the Maties winger – at least the result ensures people are prepared to give the white card a second, albeit severely revamped chance….
8 Apr 2008, 09:15 am
The problem with this whole thing is we end up changing the game so much that it wont even resemble rugby. And I for one wont like that. NFL is much slower than rugby so why try make rugby like that?
8 Apr 2008, 09:19 am
And as Dawn said it wastes so much more time! One of these days with all these technical aspects the game will be so much longer they are going to split the game into quarters and the teams can call time outs and etc…
Too technical…
8 Apr 2008, 09:20 am
Whose idea was this Watson’s?
8 Apr 2008, 09:26 am
I do not think that our friends up North will like this, especially the Frogs. No they would rather insist on the white flag.
8 Apr 2008, 09:26 am
I don’t like it. As mentioned by many it takes way too long and it needs to be refined quite a bit.
For my money the call must firstly only come from the captain on the field, not the medic, ball jockey or coach on the sidelines as was the case with one call last night. Secondly, the call or right to call should only be in the event of a try being scored or not scored. Not for some tackle 5 phases before which had no real effect on the game. You can only contest if a try has been scored, or as with the Hurricanes last weekend, where it was not scored or awarded.
Dirty play and other stuff can be sorted out after the game. It takes too long as is and this is making it even worse.
Importantly however I believe they should do away with this TMO business altogether. Rugby as with most sports is momentum driven and a guy sitting in a box looking at a TV has no feel for the game or the momentum of the game, he will call things by the book (and still get it wrong) and not make decisions within the context of the game.
To me, a much better option would be for TV stations to be installed at each end of the field behind the in-goal area. When a TMO decision needs to be made, or a white card decision, the ref, with his assistants can look at the evidence themselves and make a decision. Being on the ground and being able to gauge the momentum of the match first hand they are in a much better position to make a call.
3 a match, only in try situations or where tries are contested with calls only to be made by captains of the team and decisions to be made by the officials on the field.
8 Apr 2008, 09:28 am
Wanted to add, it may also only be done in one continues move and you should not be allowed to go back to a call if there was 1 or more stoppages or breaks in play (scrum, line-out, free-kick, pen, etc. any restart)
8 Apr 2008, 09:33 am
Dont know why SA is having any thing to do with these rule changes.We won the WC on the old rules why shoot ourselves in the foot,we should follow the NH lead and give them a wide birth.
8 Apr 2008, 09:34 am
I was at the game and I have to agree that it was a bit painful to wait for the TMO to make his decisions. Very Painfull in fact, especially cos i knew they were both going to be ruled out.
you would think that being at the game and feeling the spirit so much more you would be more into the game and not be aware of how much time wasting happened during the tmo decision, but it did and everybody in the crowd felt it. They even started a slow clap (something Ruck might know something about after last night) to show their impatience.
Will this kill the game? Well yes, the new ELV’s are all about speed and getting the game to flow only to now be broken by unnecessary breaks.
Would UCT have been unhappy if they lost the game due to a try that was scored from a offside position? Sure, the fans would habe been bleating their heads off today, so in the long run, its good to have the white card as it makes the game less dependant on referee mistakes, will it make the game slower, for sure.
I will not be surprised to see an add for highbloodpressure medicine flashin on the tv while you are waiting for the TMO to make his decision.
this whitecard thing will have to be considered though, as big as a pain it is.
8 Apr 2008, 09:36 am
54 I don’t think Watson thought this up on his own but he is definitely the white card’s champion.
When it was discussed on Boots&All Watson explained the reaosn for the system by using “we” throughout….so on a preponderance of probabilities….
8 Apr 2008, 09:36 am
expect john robbie to put up a huuuuuuuuuuge moan on boots and all! this is going to be his new gripe to moan about. expect a lot of desk pounding and pointing at the camera… does he realise he resembles the groot krokodil?
at least he would have stopped moaning about the ELV’s.
His songs are starting to get repetive!
8 Apr 2008, 09:38 am
repetitive!
8 Apr 2008, 09:38 am
I think the whole idea is ****, but no-one asked the fans.
8 Apr 2008, 09:42 am
Stofjas #61
Hilarious. Very funny. Also think your name is funny. Good on you.
8 Apr 2008, 09:44 am
4 proffesional, paid, match officials.
Change their individual or collective areas of responsabilty if need be, so that the TV official has more say, or whatever.
Why the hell should any decision making go beyond them?
Oh, I forgot, BECAUSE IT IS A MARKETING EXERCISE, NOT A RUGBY ONE!!
8 Apr 2008, 09:44 am
Shame, I really felt sorry for the Ikeys last night. Overjoyed at the Maties win, though!
Also felt that Man of the Match should not have gone to Jacobi Adriaanse, the Maties prop – my Man of the Match, by far, was Matthew Turner, the UCT wing. Oh my word, that winger was everywhere! What an amazing player!
Bennie Booysen is clearly not the most astute captain we’ve ever had.
Ikeys supporters usually have a dilemma when they go to Coetzenburg. If they win, they get donnered afterwards. If they lose, they still get donnered afterwards.
8 Apr 2008, 09:49 am
Hey, I have an idea!!
Lets call it the Auto and General, Coca Cola, white card moment of the match.
We can then have some music and dancing girls in the sponsors kit, while the replay is happening.
Should be able to sell slots at a profit, if we increase the cards to 3 per side in each half.
Now that’s exciting rugby for you!!!
8 Apr 2008, 09:52 am
hmmm, white card, not sure the players should be allowed to appeal, surely most will want to keep it for the end of the game in case something happens at the death when it really counts.
dont see why the TV ref’s powers are simply not extended so that he can review forward passes and so on that lead to a crucial try.
8 Apr 2008, 09:52 am
As for the game itself, it is a travesty the final was moved to Maties.
Why they could not play the game on Saturday in the afternoon is beyond me.
8 Apr 2008, 09:59 am
Agreed, PissAnt.
8 Apr 2008, 10:01 am
Maties won, great! That’s all.
8 Apr 2008, 10:20 am
Must say, it’s quite a clever, punny title for this thread: “Making the white call” i.e. “making the right call”.
8 Apr 2008, 10:22 am
simon the ball fell into Koch’s hands from a throw away from the Ikey’s wing and the All Blacks wish they had made even the semi finals!
8 Apr 2008, 10:39 am
if they want to bring that in, I’ll say 1 card a game! we dont need 2 get 2 technical…errors happens all the time……while we are screaming at the tv…FORWARD PASS!! KNOCK ON!! LATE TACKLE OFFSIDES!!!
STUPID REF, hes blind, unfair, getting paid by the other.
at least we can challenge one…and debate the other or scream at the other.
8 Apr 2008, 10:44 am
Why can’t the tv ref have a permanent link to the on-field ref, as the touch judges do? That should eliminate many errors
8 Apr 2008, 11:05 am
We have already pioneered the use of another card, the race card, in South African rugby. This is what Stofile showed to SARU after he lost the election.
8 Apr 2008, 11:08 am
It hilarious to think that when ELVs were introduced all and sundry said Union was going to be like league…yet the reality is that the game has been made a little faster or the ball is kept in play a little longer or there is not so many stops.
Now we have a saffa introducing american football style officiating.
Stop ‘fall asleep wait for the result’ start rugby is being reinfored once again.
8 Apr 2008, 11:09 am
The antipodean onanist makes his entrance.
8 Apr 2008, 11:10 am
This is great – I can fetch another beer (my son is a lock and not a fetcher) and go take a leak with out missing any rugby.
8 Apr 2008, 11:11 am
If anything allow questioning the last move prior to the try being scored.
This is signalled by the ref to the TMO to check the last move.
Currently the ref can only ask if the try was scored.
8 Apr 2008, 11:12 am
It also has the potential to generate dome more advertising revenue. Well thought out Supersport.
8 Apr 2008, 11:13 am
A good innovation, if you are looking for zero defect.
What makes rugby the game it is, is the human condition warts and all. let the guys get away with things if they can. they catch them most of the time. A good team will come out on top anyway.
8 Apr 2008, 11:19 am
what about the Quota card for players to challenge non selection for Boks?
8 Apr 2008, 11:26 am
What if a team is blown up for a forward pass with the to be try scorer over the line with no defenders in sight and does not dot the ball down. The white card comes out and it is ruled that it was not a forward pass……?
Seems like the rule will mostly help the defending team!
8 Apr 2008, 11:29 am
wallabie @ 77
did you watch the game? i think at most mayor grounds this (the white card) wont be a huge problem as the replays can be followed on the big screens. the only problem may be that the spectators wont know what the tv ref is looking for.
apart from that, i believe this is a step in the right direction as referee blunders can still be corrected in the game. unfortunately (as yesterday’s game showed) the referee can still get it wrong EVEN with the help of the tv ref. the incident just before halftime is a good example of it. ikeys’ captain asked for the ref to have a look at foul play, which the tv ref found clear evidence for. the ref then awarded a penalty to ikeys but no yellow card even though the number of the guilty player was also given to him. (an ikey player was yellow carded for a similart offence eralier in the game) so i doubt whether we’ll see an end to referee inconsistency.
8 Apr 2008, 11:58 am
I like this idea. Refs a cannot always see everything. But I would make 1 change to this. I would say give both teams 3 strikes per match. Every time they request a card and the original call was correct it costs them 1 strike. And if the TV ref cannot see the ball (at the bottom of a ruck) it should not be a strike because he could not give an opinion. Like it is in tennis now. I say bring it on. That way people cannot blame the ref anymore. But I would say that to host a game with this white cards the stadium must have an electronic screen so that the people at the stadium don’t get screwd.
8 Apr 2008, 12:05 pm
Its a good idea this. I would rather let the team’s captain AND coach be able to pull the card though. So that if the captain is in doubt, the coach can call up the match official sitting on the sideline to halt play and dispute the decision. It may well slow down play, but with the ELVs it will not really make so much of a difference, and some players might love a break.
8 Apr 2008, 12:17 pm
87
you can only request the use of the white card the moment play stops, you cant “halt” play, and neither should you be able to!
8 Apr 2008, 12:42 pm
Hiya all,
Simon Says:
“I said the All Blacks, for example, could have challenged that forward pass in the World Cup semi-final against France, and gone on to win the tournament.”
Excuse me Simon. How about adding a could’ve just before the “gone on to win the tournament”? That’s poor South African journalism. But hey, the William Webb Ellis Cup sits in SARU’s trophy cabinet (I think), so I’ll try not complain too much when this kind of stuff comes up.
Just remember, though, Simon, the AB’s would’ve had to beat the Springboks to do live up to yoru claim…
8 Apr 2008, 12:45 pm
YOUR
8 Apr 2008, 13:00 pm
90
yours too!!
8 Apr 2008, 13:07 pm
Up all yours.
8 Apr 2008, 13:24 pm
Aah, well thanks for responding you lot!
I was correcting a spelling mistake. Dawn, don’t get so darn aggressive! Gee.
8 Apr 2008, 13:30 pm
Ataturk, (#49 and #51)
Very valid points. The ref clarified what he was to look for, and the TV ref referred him to another incident viz. offside from the kick. I have no doubt that the UCT coach was referring to the offside from the kick, but that is not what Gagiano specifically asked the ref to check.
If the result had gone to UCT, there would have been an outcry of knote from the Matie camp, and justifiably so.
On another point, if Joe Peterson ever showboats again on a rugby field, eg. punching the air when there is still work to be done, his teammates should kick his *** all the way back to the changing room. He should have transferred the ball to his left arm to protect it from the cross-defence, but didn’t have time to do it, as he was playing to the crowd. Very windgat.
8 Apr 2008, 13:47 pm
Matie till I die, (#66)
I rate Matt Turner as an exciting talent, and would like to see him achieve higher honours. He reminds me of EP’s Tino Kankowski in the 1980′s – a low centre of gravity, quick, and strong on his feet in the tackle. However, last night Turner dropped more balls than he caught, so in my book cocked up his chances of a M.O.M award. He was also guilty of a few high tackles, and could have cost his team big time.
8 Apr 2008, 15:55 pm
3 89, Green Machine
Even worse is not knowing they never even made the semi finals
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